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Pollution watch as ship beaches Pollution watch as ship beaches
(about 1 hour later)
Anti-pollution teams are on standby as a massive ship carrying potentially dangerous chemicals prepares to beach one mile off the Devon coast. Anti-pollution teams are on stand by after a massive ship carrying potentially dangerous chemicals beached one mile off the Devon coast.
The MSC Napoli, which was holed in the English Channel on Thursday, is carrying 2,394 containers.The MSC Napoli, which was holed in the English Channel on Thursday, is carrying 2,394 containers.
A "small proportion" includes industrial and agricultural chemicals, according to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). About 150 contained "hazardous" substances including industrial and agricultural chemicals, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said.
The ship will beach near Branscombe following serious structural failure. The ship has beached near Branscombe following serious structural failure.
The MCA said the ship was being surrounded by a 1km boom to protect the sea from pollution. The ship has been leaking diesel since Thursday. Its 26-man crew was rescued by helicopter on Thursday.
The escaped diesel, which was the ship's fuel and not cargo, had dispersed naturally and was not posing a pollution risk, a spokesman added. New plan
With winds of up to gale force 9 predicted for Saturday, the MCA scrapped its original plan to take the ship to Portland Harbour in Dorset for salvage because of "serious danger of structural failure".
Large cracks on both sides of the ship also worsened during the night.
The MCA's Paul Coley told BBC News the ship's cargo - starting with potentially hazardous materials - would now be taken ashore from the ship's current position by salvage crews.
The location was selected to "minimise the impact of any spillage" and to enable the salvage work, he said.
How crew were rescuedHow crew were rescued
"We made the decision it was better to keep the ship in one piece and to beach the ship and to commence the salvage operation by removing all the pollutants," he added.
"The oils will be the first priority, the ships bunkers, fuel oil, and then the containers which are considered most hazardous first," he added.
French news agencies reported this week that the vessel was carrying 1,700 tonnes of dangerous materials, including toxins.French news agencies reported this week that the vessel was carrying 1,700 tonnes of dangerous materials, including toxins.
Robin Middleton, of the Department of Transport, told BBC News that the containers with dangerous chemicals were at the centre of the cargo. The MCA said the ship was being surrounded by a 1km boom to protect the sea from pollution.
"No dangerous chemicals are near the edge so it is very unlikely they will be swept overboard," he said. The ship has also been leaking its diesel fuel since Thursday which the MCA said had dispersed naturally and was not a pollution risk.
"I'm very confident that there will be no pollution from the cargo." Reader Tony Norton sent in this picture of the MSC Napoli in Branscombe
Helicopter rescue The Department of Transport's Robin Middleton said he was "very confident" there would be no pollution from the cargo.
The MCA said large cracks on both sides of the ship had worsened during the night. "No dangerous chemicals are near the edge so it is very unlikely they will be swept overboard," he added.
The stern of the ship, which was in danger of shearing away, was gradually settling lower in the water and deteriorating.
The ship is beached about one mile off the Devon coast
With gales of 42mph predicted, the MCA decided that it would not take the ship to Portland Harbour in Dorset for salvage as originally planned.
It will now be salvaged near Branscombe, the MCA said.
Salvors Smit International will now attempt to remove the containers from the site east of Sidmouth with salvage equipment.
The 275m (900ft) Napoli, registered in London and owned by the Swiss Mediterranean Shipping Company, developed two long gashes on each side just above the water line in stormy weather on Thursday.The 275m (900ft) Napoli, registered in London and owned by the Swiss Mediterranean Shipping Company, developed two long gashes on each side just above the water line in stormy weather on Thursday.
With the engine room flooded and the vessel listing badly, the 26-man crew abandoned ship.With the engine room flooded and the vessel listing badly, the 26-man crew abandoned ship.
Two helicopters from RNAS Culdrose airlifted all the crew in the French co-ordinated rescue.Two helicopters from RNAS Culdrose airlifted all the crew in the French co-ordinated rescue.
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